Small Plane Crashes In US' Philadelphia, Multiple Deaths Reported

January 31, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

 A small plane carrying two people crashed in the vicinity of a shopping mall in Philadelphia, resulting in multiple casualties on the ground, local media reported on Friday.

The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper, citing police, said the crash took place shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern near the Roosevelt Mall in northeast Philadelphia.

At least one house and multiple cars are on fire, the newspaper reported.

The Philadelphia Office of Emergency Management confirmed on social media that there was a "major incident" in the area of the reported crash, but provided no other details.

The Philadelphia CBS affiliate showed images of a large fire and several fire trucks at the scene of the crash, and that the status of victims was not immediately known.

Neither the Philadelphia police department nor the fire department immediately responded to requests for comment.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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Traffic Control Radar Shows Moment When US Jet Collided With Chopper

January 31, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

A footage is going viral on social media platforms showing the air traffic control room screen, which appears to show the radar view of an American Airlines plane colliding with a US military helicopter on Wednesday.

The 49-second clip shows how the Army Black Hawk helicopter with three people on board - call sign PAT25 - crashed into the American Eagle Flight 5342, a small plane carrying 60 passengers and four crew members.

They collided over Washington before crashing into the Potomac River. 

Authorities say they do not expect any survivors from the crash, which was caught on multiple cameras. Multi-agency operation is underway to recover 67 bodies from the river.

The American Airlines plane, which was flying to the US capital from Wichita, Kansas, was carrying athletes and coaches from the elite figure skating world, including former Russian world pairs champions Evgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov.

The incident occurred at approximately 9:00 pm (ET) (0200 GMT) on Wednesday as the aircraft was making its final approach to Washington's Reagan National Airport.

According to reports, the plane pilot has been identified as Sam Lilley, a 28-year-old with six years experience at American Airlines, and who was engaged to be married.

Air Traffic Controller Audio Captures Moments Before Washington Plane Crash

An Air traffic control audio also recorded the moments before and after the passenger jet crashed with the US Army helicopter.

Audio from LiveATC.net, a respected source for in-flight recording, captured the final communications between the three crew members of the chopper before it collided with the CRJ700 Bombardier jet.

"PAT25, do you have a CRJ in sight? PAT25, pass behind the CRJ," an air traffic controller said at 8:47 pm (ET) on Wednesday.

Seconds later, another aircraft called in to air traffic control, saying, "Tower, did you see that?" - apparently referring to the crash. 

An air traffic controller then redirected planes heading to runway 33 at Reagan Washington National Airport to go around.

"Crash, crash, crash, this is an alert three," one of the air traffic controllers can be heard saying in the audio from around the time of the crash.

"I don't know if you caught earlier what happened, but there was a collision on the approach into 33. We're going to be shutting down operations for the indefinite future," another controller said.

"Both the helicopter and the plane crashed in the river," a third air traffic controller can be heard saying.

"It was probably out in the middle of the river," the controller said. 

"I just saw a fireball and then it was just gone. I haven't seen anything since they hit the river. But it was a CRJ and a helicopter that hit," the controller added.

(With agency inputs)



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'Airlines To Cut Fares By 50% For Maha Kumbh': Minister's Big Announcement

January 31, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Civil Aviation Minister K Ram Mohan Naidu has announced a 50 per cent reduction in airfare for passengers traveling to the Kumbh Mela. The new reduced fares came into effect starting today.

The government has already directed airlines to cut the ticket prices. Three meetings were held with airline companies before implementing the fare reduction.

Airlines were reminded that such a grand event happens once in 140 years, and they must be mindful of the significance.

At the same time, the government has ensured that airlines do not suffer financial losses due to the fare reduction.



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"Has Worst...": Kohli Gets Brutal Reality Check As Smith, Root Pile Runs

January 30, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Steve Smith has regained his mojo in Test cricket, with the Australia batter smashing his 36th century in the format on Day 1 of the 1st Test against Sri Lanka in Galle. During the same knock, Smith, who is leading Australia in the absence of regular skipper Pat Cummins, became only the fourth Australian to breach the landmark of 10,000 Tests runs. Former India batter Aakash Chopra has lauded Smith, who now stands at 10,140 runs at an average of 56.33 in 115 Tests.

Chopra pointed out that Smith now has five more Test centuries then Virat Kohli, despite the latter playing five more innings.

"Smith has scored a century (against Sri Lanka). He has struck his 35th century in just 205 innings. (Joe) Root has scored 36 hundreds but he has played 278 innings. So if you look at it in terms of the strike rate, the number of innings he takes to score a century, then Steve Smith is ahead of Joe Root," said Chopra on his Youtube channel.

Chopra also highlighted that Kohli now has the worst average, in comparison to his Fab 4 contemporaries -- Smith, Joe Root and Kane Williamson.

"If I see Virat Kohli here, he has played 210 innings, which means he has played five more innings than Steve Smith and has five centuries fewer than him. So Virat Kohli, unfortunately, now has the worst strike rate because he has scored only three centuries in the last five years," Chopra added.

Meanwhile, Kohli endured a tough 2024. In 10 Tests last year, he scored just 417 runs at an average of 24.52 with just one century and fifty, to conclude a disappointing year.

He has been facing a massive decline in his Test performances that dates back to the start of 2020. In 39 Test matches since the start of 2020, Virat has scored just 2,028 runs at an average of 30.72, with just three centuries and nine fifties to show. His best score is 186.

(With ANI Inputs)



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Watch: Astronaut Sunita Williams Takes First Spacewalk After 8 Months

January 30, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

After being stranded in space for eight months, NASA astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore finally embarked on their first joint spacewalk outside the International Space Station.

Indian-origin astronaut and Commander Sunita Williams, along with fellow astronaut Barry Wilmore, ventured outside the International Space Station on Thursday to carry out maintenance work. As part of their tasks, they also wiped the station's exterior to check for any surviving microbes from Earth.

"Here we go," Mr Wilmore remarked as he exited the station, 420 kilometres above Earth, in a video livestreamed by NASA on X.

See the video here:

NASA on Wednesday said it was working with billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX to safely return the astronauts Sunita Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are for months struck at International Space Station (ISS), back home "as soon as practical." The development came a day after US President Donald Trump said that SpaceX would "soon" begin a mission to repatriate the two American astronauts.

"NASA and SpaceX are expeditiously working to safely return the agency's SpaceX Crew-9 astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore as soon as practical, while also preparing for the launch of Crew-10 to complete a handover between expeditions," the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said in a post on X.

Veteran astronauts Wilmore and Williams arrived at the ISS in June 2024 aboard Boeing's Starliner. They were due to spend only eight days on the orbiting laboratory, but technical problems on the spacecraft prompted NASA to change plans. The US space agency announced in August that Boeing rival SpaceX would bring the crew home in February. But their return was further postponed due to SpaceX preparing a new spacecraft.


 



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Indian Astronaut To Pilot Private Spacecraft Axiom-4, Do Yoga In Space

January 30, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, set to become the second Indian to go to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's journey on board the Soyuz T-11 in April 1984, will take on the role of pilot on the Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4.

The Ax-4 will go to the International Space Station (ISS) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Kennedy Space Centre in Florida no earlier than spring 2025, NASA told reporters on Thursday.

Group Captain Shukla, who is serving in the Indian Air Force (IAF), has also been chosen as an astronaut for India's Gaganyaan Mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was ISRO that sent him to NASA for the Ax-4 mission to the ISS.

Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the private Ax-4 mission, while Group Captain Shukla will serve as pilot, the American space agency told reporters.

"I am really excited to go into microgravity and experience space flight on my own. The tempo for the mission has been building up each month. I think we are at a stage wherein all the pieces are kind of coming together. I'm extremely excited to see how this unfolds in the coming months and for the actual space flight as well," Group Captain Shukla said in response to a question by NDTV.

Add image caption here

The Axiom 4 Mission team speaks to NDTV Science Editor Pallava Bagla

"We have been training for the past four-five months. We now understand the entire CONOPS, the concept of operations, and going forward from here it would mostly be repetition of the things that we have done. So we are ready and confident in our abilities to execute this mission successfully," Group Captain Shukla added.

On whether he would perform yoga as was done by Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in space, Group Captain Shukla said, "Yes, now that you have said so, I would probably demonstrate a few poses of yoga while we are up on the station."

"But a more important aspect is that we need to practice while we are on the ground so that we have a healthy body which can house a healthy mind and allow us to execute this mission in our full spirits, truly," Group Captain Shukla said.

He added in Hindi, "I am very excited about this mission, and I think the kind of training we have done so far makes me confident in my abilities. We will be able to execute this mission very well. Thank you."

Add image caption here

The Axiom 4 Mission team

Ms Whitson praised her team which has a diverse composition.

"These guys are very intelligent, so they absolutely listen to me," she said. "It is an interesting challenge to bring a diverse group from different countries together. I had that opportunity on the previous Axiom mission. And even on the NASA missions, we work as a very international team. But that is what I love to do. I love to bring people together and to build a team. And so that is kind of my main goal of this mission is to build that elite team. And I think I have got it here."

The first private astronaut mission to the ISS, Axiom Mission 1, lifted off in April 2022 for a 17-day mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The second private astronaut mission to the station, Axiom Mission 2, also was commanded by Ms Whitson and launched in May 2023 with four private astronauts who spent eight days in orbit.

The most recent private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 3, launched in January 2024; the crew spent 18 days docked to the ISS.



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Blood Waterfall: All About Antarctica's Mysterious Natural Phenomena

January 29, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Antarctica is one of the most unknown places on planet Earth. It has long been a place of intrigue and adventure. Even today, scientists continue to be captivated by the wonders held within Antarctica's icy plains. One of the most intriguing phenomena on the frozen continent is the Blood Falls, a red-coloured waterfall that flows from Taylor Glacier into the West Lake Bonney. The waterfall is a striking feature against the white landscape, and it's been fascinating observers since its discovery by geologist Thomas Griffith Taylor in 1911.

Here's everything to know about the Blood Waterfalls 

According to Forbes, Blood Waterfall was discovered over 110 years ago by geoscientist Griffith Taylor. Mr Taylor gave his name both to the glacier where he found the spewing red water and to Taylor Valley, into which the glacier flows. 

Initially, researchers believed that the colour of the waterfall could be because of red algae content in the water. However, new research recently explained that the waterfall is rich in iron, which reacts with oxygen in the air when the water emerges from the glacier, staining it a bloody crimson colour. 

Another thing that left scientists baffled was the temperature in the area, which is almost minus 19 degrees Celcius. So, the fact that the water was running and not frozen solid was surprising. 

Also Read | Meet Luo Fuli, The 29-Year-Old "AI Prodigy" Behind DeepSeek's Global Success

However, in 2003, it was revealed that the running water has an extremely high salt content, which is double the levels they saw in seawater in the area. The high salt content pushes up the water's freezing point, which explains why it's still liquid at such cold temperatures.

The seawater is home to a diverse community of bacteria which have adapted to the harsh conditions of the subglacial environment, where they have no light, no oxygen, and limited nutrients. They survive by using a process called chemosynthesis, in which they obtain energy by breaking down the sulfate and iron in the water.

The origin of the water is also fascinating. Researchers explained the existence of the water after delving back into history 1.5 million years ago, as per Indy 100. Back then, the salt water was contained in a lake. A glacier then moved over the lake and contained it there for thousands of years, before it spurted from underneath the ice at Blood Falls, researchers explained. 



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Over 30 Million Years Old Pre-Historic Fossil Stolen From Meghalaya Village

January 29, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

A rare pre-historic fossil, possibly 35 to 40 million years old, has been stolen from a village in Meghalaya, leaving people in shock and outraged. The fossil was discovered in May last year in the state's Tolegre village in South Garo Hills.

The Geological Survey of India (GSI) had examined the site last year and collected samples. Following this, the villagers were safeguarding the remaining fossil by restricting access to the area, officials said.

The fossil is possibly from the extinct Rodhocetus or Ambulocetus - early ancestors of modern whales.

Latest and Breaking News on NDTV

A case has been filed at the Siju Police Station and the police are on the lookout for the culprits, officials said.

According to Meghalaya Education Minister Rakkam Sangma, the state government was planning to build a museum at the site.

"The villagers informed me...They have filed an FIR. This is very unfortunate. It should not have happened...A portion of the fossil has been cut and taken away. This fossil is an asset to the state and the country. We will find and arrest the culprit," he said.

"This site is located in Tolegre under my constituency, under Siju Police Station, South Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Geologists from abroad had discovered it. The state government was considering constructing a museum at the site, and as the local MLA, I was planning to push for it. Now, we will have to see how things unfold. The police will conduct an inquiry," Mr Sangma added.



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Putin Says Talks With Ukraine Possible, But Not With Zelensky

January 28, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that talks with Ukraine were possible but not with its President Volodymyr Zelensky, whom he deemed "illegitimate".

US President Donald Trump has put pressure on both sides to end the nearly three-year conflict, saying last week that Zelensky wanted to negotiate a "deal" to stop the fighting.

"If (Zelensky) wants to participate in the negotiations, I will allocate people to take part in the negotiations," Putin said, calling the Ukrainian leader "illegitimate" because his presidential term expired during martial law.

"If there is a desire to negotiate and find a compromise, let anyone lead the negotiations there... Naturally, we will strive for what suits us, what corresponds to our interests," he added.

Putin also claimed the fighting would end in two months or less if the West cut its support to Kyiv.

"They will not exist for a month if the money and, in a broad sense, the bullets run out. Everything would be over in a month and a half or two," Putin said.

The conflict has shown no signs of de-escalating despite Trump's promise to enact a quick ceasefire once in office.

Russian officials said Monday that nobody in Trump's team had reached out about setting up a meeting with Putin, but that both sides appeared to be ready for one.

Kyiv has warned against it being excluded from any peace talks, accusing Putin of wanting to "manipulate" Trump.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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What Is 'One Nation, One Time' Initiative, How It May Work

January 28, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

In order to ensure precision and uniformity in timekeeping across the country, the Indian government recently published a draft of new metrology rules for Indian Standard Time (IST) for public consultation. The draft, devised by the Department of Consumer Affairs, in collaboration with the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is part of a broader 'One India, One Time' initiative that intends to transition from GPS to India's regional navigation system for time synchronization, ensuring that the country has a self-reliant and secure timekeeping system.

Currently, IST is determined, down to the millisecond, using GPS satellites linked to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). However, reports suggest that the government is gearing towards the transition to using Navigation with Indian Constellation (NavIC) for time dissemination.

"IST shall be the mandatory time reference across all sectors, including commerce, transport, public administration, legal contracts, and financial operations," the draft rule stated.

How will 'One Nation, One Time' work?

Though the government is yet to provide the official procedure for time synchronization, multiple reports claim that atomic clocks will be used to maintain the accuracy of IST, which is currently set 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). The NPL, located in New Delhi is currently primary source of IST, equipped with advanced atomic clocks that lose only a second over millions of years.

The NPL will provide reference time to four regional centers in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneswar, and Guwahati via optical fibre, ensuring that the time is uniformly accurate across the country. Each centre will also have an atomic clock to create a robust network that supports precision timing.

Display and use of IST

The draft stated that all government offices and public institutions will be required to display IST on all time-keeping devices, ensuring synchronisation through reliable sources like Network Time Protocol (NTP) or Precision Time Protocol (PTP) or any other source.

Exceptions

Notably, the use of alternative timescales such as GMT will be permitted for specific purposes such as astronomy, navigation and scientific research, "subject to prior permission and compliance with government directives".

What's the current situation?

Despite its significance, not all telecom and internet service providers have adopted IST mandatorily, with many still relying on foreign time sources. Efforts are underway to align these systems with IST to enhance national security and operational efficiency.

After the deployment of atomic clocks, the time shown on digital watches, smartphones and laptops will be based on them instead of service providers accessing data from multiple sources linked to GPS.



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Champions Trophy Stadiums In A Mess In Pakistan, ICC CEO Steps Down

January 28, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

International Cricket Council CEO Geoff Allardice has decided to step down just weeks before the Champions Trophy with a board member indicating that his failure to present a "clear picture" of host Pakistan's lack of preparedness is one of the multiple reasons behind the move. The 57-year-old joined the ICC in 2012 as General Manager of Cricket, coming from Cricket Australia, where he served as Cricket Operations Manager. He was appointed CEO of the ICC in November 2021, after having served as acting CEO for eight months.

"It has been a privilege to serve as the Chief Executive Officer of the International Cricket Council and I am incredibly proud of the results we have achieved, from enhancing the global reach of cricket to the commercial foundation put in place for ICC Members," Allardice said in a statement.

"I believe this is the right time for me to step down and pursue new challenges," he added.

The official ICC statement made no mention of the exact reasons for Allardice's departure but a top source said the development has been building up for a while.

"The ICC T20 World Cup in the US was big a flop in terms of playing conditions and also it exceeded budget, the auditing is still being done," the board member told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

"What broke the camel's back was Champions Trophy where as CEO, he was supposed to give a clear picture about readiness of Pakistan to host a tourney of such magnitude," he added.

The Champions Trophy is due to start on February 19 with India playing its share of matches in Dubai owing to security concerns in Pakistan.

The bigger concern for ICC is, however, the fact that tournament venues in Karachi and Rawalpindi are still partially under construction or renovation and the images that have trickled in from there do not paint a very positive picture.

It remains to be seen whether Pakistan would be ready in time for the marquee event, which features the world's top eight teams and is being held for the first time after 2017.

However, ICC Chair Jay Shah praised Allardice for his contribution to the game.

"On behalf of the ICC Board, I want to sincerely thank Geoff for his leadership and commitment during his tenure as Chief Executive. His efforts have played a key role in advancing cricket globally.

"We are truly grateful for his service and wish him all the very best in his future endeavors," he said.

The ICC Board will now begin the process to identify Allardice's successor.

His departure continues the exodus of former chair Greg Barclay's team from the ICC.

Earlier, Chris Tetley (head of events), Alex Marshall (head of Anti-Corruption Unit) and Claire Furlong (head of marketing and media) had quit their positions on personal grounds. 



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Why's 'Fit' Shami Not Playing vs Eng? Team Insider Says, "Gambhir, SKY..."

January 27, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Pacer Mohammed Shami is not facing any fitness concerns but the call on him playing the remaining games in the T20I series against England will be taken by the captain and the head coach, India's new batting coach Sitanshu Kotak said on Monday. Shami, who has not played for India since the ODI World Cup final in November 2023, has been picked for the ongoing five-match series, the following three ODIs and the Champions Trophy. The 34-year-old not being picked for the first two T20s raised questions over his fitness but Kotak said the veteran pacer has no issues on that front.

"Yes, Shami is fit but something about him playing or not playing, I am not the one who can answer," Kotak said when asked if the bowler will feature in third T20 here on Tuesday.

Kotak added that it is up to captain Suryakumar Yadav and head coach Gautam Gambhir to manage Shami's workload in the lead up to important events like the Champions Trophy beginning on February 19.

"There is definitely a plan (for Shami) for coming matches as well and One-dayers, but the coach Gautam and obviously Surya will take a call. And fitness, definitely not a problem depending on how they are planning to build this load," Kotak added.

Shami had undergone an ankle surgery in February last year.

There were calls for him to be included in India's Test squad for the Australia but he was not able to regain full fitness for the series Down Under despite playing domestic cricket in the shorter formats.



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China's AI Startup DeepSeek Hit By "Cyberattack", Limits New Registration

January 27, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Chinese AI sensation DeepSeek on Monday said it was limiting the registration of new users due to large-scale cyberattacks on its services.

The company, whose chatbot took over OpenAI's ChatGPT as Apple's top downloaded app on Monday, cited "large-scale malicious attacks" for outages and its inability to take on new users.

DeepSeek, which was developed by a start-up based in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, has shown the ability to match the capacity of AI pace-setters such as Nvidia.

Its success on the US app store sent shares in AI-linked tech giants plummeting on Monday.

The low-cost Chinese generative AI venture is thought to have matched US companies in its abilities but at a fraction of the cost.

Analysts had long thought that the United States' critical advantage over China when it comes to producing high-powered chips -- and its ability to prevent the Asian power from accessing the technology -- would give it the edge in the AI race.

Available as an app or on desktop, DeepSeek can do many of the things that its Western competitors can do -- write song lyrics, help work on a personal development plan, or even write a recipe for dinner based on what's in the fridge.

It is however subject to the censorship seen in other Chinese-made chatbots like Baidu's Ernie Bot that are very limited on how they interact on political topics.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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NDTV Explainer: Symptoms Of Guillain-Barre Syndrome And How To Prevent It

January 27, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

A man in Maharashtra, who was suspected to have Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) died in the Solapur district today while the number of cases of the immunological nerve disorder crossed 100 in Pune.

This is reportedly the first death in Maharashtra due to GBS. The 40-year-old man, a native of Solapur, had come to Pune, where he is suspected to have contracted the disease.

The Union health ministry has sent a team to Pune's Sinhgad area, where the outbreak is currently concentrated.

Symptoms Of GBS

GBS is a neurological disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. This is part of the nervous system outside the brain and spinal cord. The onset of GBS is quite sudden and unexpected.

The first symptoms of Guillain-Barre Syndrome include weakness or tingling sensations. They usually start in the legs and can spread to the arms and face, states the World Health Organization. 

Many people have back pain or pain in the arms or legs. A nervous system exam usually reveals a loss of all deep tendon reflexes. 

For some people, these symptoms can lead to paralysis of the legs, arms, or muscles in the face. In approximately one third of people, the chest muscles are affected, making it hard to breathe, WHO said.

The ability to speak and swallow may become affected in severe cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Patients with GBS need immediate hospitalization and the symptoms can develop over a few days or a few weeks, with the greatest weakness occurring within the first couple of weeks after symptoms appear, states Johns Hopkins Medicine.

How To Prevent GBS?

The state health department in an advisory shared that one can prevent GBS up to a certain extent by taking general precautions such as drinking boiled water/ bottled water, washing fruits, and vegetables thoroughly before eating, properly cooking poultry and meat; avoiding raw or undercooked food, especially salads, eggs, kebabs or seafood.

It also suggested keeping raw and cooked foods separate, disinfecting kitchen surfaces and utensils after handling raw meat, as well as adopting general hygiene measures like frequent hand washing with soap, especially before eating and after using the toilet.



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UK Man Cleans Graves As Side Hustle, Earns Enough To Buy His First Home

January 27, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

A 31-year-old man from Harlow, England, has turned an unconventional yet profitable side hustle—cleaning graves—into the means of fulfilling his dream of buying his first home. Shaun Tookey, who launched his business in May 2023 while working full-time as a tree surgeon, has since renovated over 300 graves. His services range from deep cleaning and repainting lettering to adding decorative chippings.

According to the New York Post, Shaun Tookey was able to save for a deposit and secure a mortgage by earning between $187 (over Rs 15,535) and $562 (over Rs 46,673) per job. This allowed him and his family to move into their first home in December 2024.

Reports state that Shaun spends his weekends and time off working on his side business, "The Grave Cleaner," where he cleans two to four graves each day. His transformation videos are popular on TikTok and Facebook, where he shares his work under the account @thegravecleaner.

"I'm trying to run a successful business and offer a service most people can't provide," Shaun told the New York Post. "It's very satisfying and rewarding to help people who don't know how to care for their loved one's gravestones."

Shaun's determination enabled him to save enough for a down payment and get a mortgage, fulfilling a dream he once thought was out of reach. "This job has given my family stability, especially with how tough things are right now," he shared.

Shaun credits his business success for enabling his family to move into their new home in December 2024, saying, "In a way, it has made us financially independent. It was a huge accomplishment for me."

He customizes his services for each client, considering factors such as the size of the grave, type of inscription, and whether paint or gold leaf is needed. While social media plays a significant role in promoting his work, Shaun also uses business cards and leaflets. He adds that the business has provided both financial security and personal fulfillment.



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England Captain Jos Buttler Sets Massive T20I Record vs India

January 26, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

England captain Jos Buttler etched his name in the record books by becoming the highest run-scorer against India in T20 Internationals. The milestone came during the second T20I of the India-England series at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, where Buttler surpassed West Indies star Nicholas Pooran to claim the top spot, as per Wisden. After losing the first match of the series in Kolkata by eight wickets, England sought a comeback in Chennai. Winning the toss, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav put England into bat. England's innings got off to a shaky start, with Phil Salt dismissed in the first over, bringing Buttler to the crease.

The England skipper wasted no time in taking on the Indian bowlers, smashing 45 off 30 balls before falling to Axar Patel. He scored a half-century in the previous game in Kolkata, highlighting his form in the series. England managed to post 165/6, but their efforts proved insufficient as Tilak Varma's unbeaten fifty guided India to victory.

During his innings, Buttler crossed the 600-run mark against India in T20Is, becoming the first player to achieve this feat. His current tally of 611 runs surpasses Nicholas Pooran's 592, with Buttler achieving the milestone in four more matches than the West Indian batter.

Buttler joins an elite group of players who have scored over 500 T20I runs against India, including Glenn Maxwell (574), David Miller (524), and Aaron Finch (500). He also becomes the 13th player in T20I history to score over 600 runs against a single opponent. Only Virat Kohli (794 vs. Australia) and Babar Azam (880 vs. New Zealand) have managed to cross the 700-run mark against one team.

Buttler was delighted with the aggression his side exhibited to turn the moderate chase into an exhilarating affair, even though his side fell to a 2-0 series deficit.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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Watch: Saif-Kareena Step Out For The First Time Since His Attack

January 26, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

On Sunday morning, Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor were spotted outside their house, amid tight security. This marked the couple's first outing since the attack on Saif on January 16, after which he was admitted in Lilavati Hospital in Bandra, Mumbai. 

The couple were spotted by the paparazzi outside their Bandra home, as they walked out and got into their car. They were also surrounded by police, who have been deployed following the attack on Saif. 

In the video, Saif and Kareena are sporting a casual look. While Kareena is seen in a casual grey sweatshirt, with black track pants and a baseball cap, Saif is wearing a navy blue t-shirt and a pair of denims. He paired the outfit with dark sunglasses. 

Watch the viral video here:

For the unversed, Saif was attacked in his Bandra home around 2:30 am on January 16. He sustained six stab wounds. Post his admission, he underwent emergency surgery at the hospital, where he was treated. 
 



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"Stick To The Catholic Church, Fix That": Trump's Border Czar Homan, To Pope

January 25, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

The war of words between US Border Czar Tom Homan and Pope Francis has escalated, with Homan firing back at the Vatican's leader over his criticism of President Donald Trump's deportation policies. In a televised interview, Homan accused Pope Francis of hypocrisy, pointing to the Vatican's own robust security measures, including a wall around the Vatican.

"They have a wall around the Vatican," Homan said. "If you illegally enter the Vatican, the crime is serious. You'll be charged with a serious crime and jailed. So he can protect the Vatican where he lives. He can build a wall where he lives, but the American people are not allowed that."

Homan also called on Pope Francis to focus on addressing issues within the Catholic Church, saying "The Pope ought to stick to the Catholic Church and fix that. That's a mess."

Pope Francis has been a vocal advocate for migrant rights, criticising restrictive immigration policies. Nearly a decade after calling Trump "not Christian" for his plans to build a US-Mexico border wall, the pontiff reiterated his stance during an appearance on the Italian talk show Che Tempo Che Fa.

"If true, this will be a disgrace," Francis said of Trump's deportation pledges. "It makes the poor wretches who have nothing pay the bill. This won't do! This is not the way to solve things. That's not how things are resolved."

The Pope's comments came as the Trump administration has intensified deportation operations, with immigration and customs enforcement (ICE) arresting 538 people on Thursday and 593 on Friday, some of whom were flown out of the country on military planes. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt touted the efforts as part of the administration's "largest deportation operation in history," aligning with Trump's campaign promises to crack down on illegal immigration.

The exchange between Homan and Pope Francis highlights the deep divisions over immigration policy in the United States. As the Trump administration continues to enforce stricter immigration rules, critics argue that the policies are inhumane and go against American values. Supporters, on the other hand, argue that the policies are necessary to maintain national security and enforce the rule of law.
 



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All You Need To Know About Mamta Kulkarni's Journey

January 25, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Mamta Kulkarni has embarked on a spiritual journey. The actress has renounced the glitz and glamour and assumed a new identity of 'Mai Mamta Nand Giri. 

Mamta Kulkarni has been honoured with the title of Mahamandaleshwar. She even performed her own Pind Daan, a symbolic ritual signifying the renunciation of worldly ties.

For the unversed, the Kinnar Akhara is a spiritual order established by eunuchs and functions under the Juna Akhara, one of the largest and most prominent Akharas in Hinduism.

As Mamta Kulkarni made a significant move in her life, let us delve into her journey – exploring her personal life, debut project, top 5 films, her final movie and the reasons behind her decision to step away from acting.

Personal life 

Born in 1972, Mamta Kulkarni never got married. Over the years, there were rumours linking her to Vicky Goswami. Several reports also claimed that the two were married. 

In a candid conversation with India Times last year, Mamta Kulkarni dismissed these speculations, labelling them as “completely untrue.”

Mamta Kulkarni said, “People should be more mindful about speaking negatively about someone they know little to nothing about. For instance, rumors in the tabloids about Mamta Kulkarni being married to Vicky Goswami are completely untrue - I'm not married to anyone because I've never had the time for that.”

She added, “I sincerely request people to stop using titles like 'husband' or 'wife' in connection with me. I don't know what else to say about these baseless rumors. Some suggest I should pursue legal action or send notices, but I have no intention of doing that.” 

Debut project

Mamta Kulkarni made her debut in 1991 with the Tamil film Nanbargal. In the Shoba Chandrasekhar directorial, Mamta was paired opposite Neeraj. Interestingly, Nanbargal was later remade in Hindi as Mera Dil Tere Liye, which served as Mamta Kulkarni's entry into Bollywood. 

Top 5 movies

1.  Tirangaa

Mamta Kulkarni was part of the iconic patriotic film Tirangaa, directed by Mehul Kumar. The movie featured Raaj Kumar and Nana Patekar in lead roles, with Mamta Kulkarni playing a supporting role as Varun's love interest (played by Harish Kumar).

2. Karan Arjun

Do not call yourself a Bollywood fan, if you can not recall Rakhee Gulzar saying, “Mere Karan Arjun ayenge.” In the film headlined by Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan, Mamta Kulkarni played the role of Bindiya, Arjun's (played by Shah Rukh Khan) love interest.

3. Kabhie Tum Kabhie Hum 

This was Mamta Kulkarni's last Hindi film. Charuhas Shidore, Anjan Srivastav and Vijayendra Ghatge were also seen in the Roop Dutta Naik directorial.

4. Aashiq Awara

This romantic drama marked Mamta Kulkarni's breakthrough in Bollywood. The Umesh Mehra film also featured Saif Ali Khan .

5. Baazi

Directed by Ashutosh Gowariker, this film featured Aamir Khan in the lead role. Mamta Kulkarni played Rajeshwari, the love interest of Aamir's character. Their on-point chemistry made this movie a must-watch.

Last film

After over a decade of delivering hit projects, Mamta Kulkarni bid farewell to acting in 2003. Her final appearance was in the Bengali film Shesh Bongsodhar. Directed by Abhijit Sen, the film also featured Victor Banerjee, Ronit Roy, Anuradha Roy, Chinmoy Roy and Rituparna Sengupta in pivotal roles.

Why did Mamta Kulkarni leave acting?

Mamta Kulkarni, in a conversation with IANS, opened up about her decision. 

"The reason for me leaving India was spirituality. In 1996, I got inclined towards spirituality and during that time I met Guru Gagan Giri Maharaj. After his arrival, my interest in spirituality increased following which my penance started. However, I believe that Bollywood gave me a name and also fame. After this, I quit Bollywood too,” Mamta Kulkarni said.

“From the year 2000 to 2012, I kept doing penance. I was in Dubai for many years, where I lived in a two-bedroom flat and remained celibate for 12 years," Mamta Kulkarni added.



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Joe Biden Removed From 'US Presidents' Search Results, Google Responds

January 24, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Former US president Joe Biden's tenure at the White House was completely omitted from Google search queries that included "US Presidents", "United States Presidents" and "US Presidents in order", a report in The Independent has claimed. For a brief period on Thursday (Jan 23), social media users complained that Mr Biden was not featuring in the list of presidents to have served the USA.

The list showed President Donald Trump to have served as the last two presidents of the US with Mr Biden's name nowhere to be found. However, prior to the Republican leader's 2016 tenure, the list showed correct results, naming Barack Obama, George Bush, and Bill Clinton, and going back to George Washington.

Users posted screenshots of their results, showing how Mr Biden had been removed. It is not clear how long Mr Biden was written out of Google search history but the glitch was fixed around 2 am ET (12:30 PM IST).

Google responds

Quizzed about the issue, Google acknowledged the mistake and said it had been caused due to some "data error".

"There was a brief data error in our knowledge graph," a Google spokesperson was quoted as saying by CNBC. "We identified the root cause and resolved it quickly."

Internet reacts

Before Google deployed countermeasures to sort the situation, a section of social media users claimed omitting Mr Biden's name was big tech's latest attempt to cosy up to President Trump.

"If this stands, this will be one of the boldest and most dangerous moments in the existence of the internet, as it will be a clear show of force that those in opposition will disappear completely," wrote one user, while another added: "Google United States Presidents and Biden is not on there. This is bigger than social media."

A third commented: "Who paid Google to initiate this SEO bullsh*t to help erase an entire presidency?"

Notably, Google was among the several big tech companies to have donated money to Mr Trump's inauguration fund. The search engine giant donated $1 million to the fund with CEO Sundar Pichai holding a prominent standing position on stage alongside other tech CEO's at the ceremony held on Monday.



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Two Mountains 100 Times Taller Than Everest Discovered Deep Beneath Earth

January 24, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Earth's biggest mountains, more than 100 times taller than Mount Everest, have been discovered on the boundary between Africa and the Pacific Ocean, a groundbreaking research, published in the journal Nature, has confirmed. The two peaks lie deep beneath the Earth's surface and reach heights of around 1,000 km, far bigger than the 8.8 km height of Mount Everest. Researchers estimate that the mountains are at least half a billion years old but could date back to the formation of Earth four billion years ago. 

"Nobody knows what they are, and whether they are only a temporary phenomenon, or if they have been sitting there for millions or perhaps even billions of years," said head researcher Dr Arwen Deuss, a seismologist and professor of Structure and composition of Earth's deep interior at Utrecht University, as per The New York Post. 

According to the research, two monstrous structures sit on the boundary between Earth's core and the mantle, the semi-solid area beneath the crust, beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean. They are surrounded by a massive "graveyard of tectonic which have been transported there by a process called 'subduction,' where one tectonic plate dives below another plate and sinks all the way from the Earth's surface down to a depth of almost three thousand kilometres," said Dr Deuss.

Scientists have known for decades that there are massive structures hidden deep within the Earth's mantle thanks to seismic shockwaves rippling through the Earth's interior. Large earthquakes cause the planet to ring like a bell, and it will sound "out of tune" when it hits anomalous objects such as the supercontinents. So, by listening carefully to the tone that arrives on the other side of the planet, scientists are able to build up a picture of what lies beneath.

"We see that seismic waves slow down there," said Dr Deuss while discussing how they happened to discover the underground mountains, which are referred to as "Large Low Seismic Velocity Provinces" or LLSVPs for this reason.

Also Read | Scientists May Have Finally Solved 50-Year-Old Mystery About Martian Surface

According to the research, the new structures are hotter than their neighbouring tectonic plates. Scientists were thrown for a loop when studying the so-called damping of seismic waves, which is the "amount of energy that waves lose when they travel through the Earth," explained Dr Duess' colleague Sujania Talavera-Soza.

"Against our expectations, we found little damping in the LLSVPs, which made the tones sound very loud there," she said, adding, "But we did find a lot of damping in the cold slab graveyard, where the tones sounded very soft." 

This was unlike the upper mantle, which was expectedly "hot" with damped waves, researchers said. Ms Sujania analogized the phenomenon to going for a run in hot weather, explaining, "you don't only slow down, but you also get more tired than when it is cold outside."

Ultimately, the study suggests that the mountains are made up of much larger grains than the surrounding slabs since these wouldn't absorb so much energy from passing seismic waves. 

"Those mineral grains do not grow overnight, which can only mean one thing: LLSVPs are lots and lots older than the surrounding slab graveyards," said Ms Sujania. 



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'Man On CCTV Doesn't Look Like My Son': Father Of Saif Ali Khan's Attacker

January 23, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Md Ruhul Amin Fakir, father of Mohammed Shariful Islam, the man accused in the recent attack on Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, spoke exclusively with IANS on Thursday. He defended his son and called into question the allegations. Mr Fakir insisted his son had been wrongfully implicated in the incident.

According to Mr Fakir, the images from CCTV footage showing a suspect with long hair do not match his son's usual appearance. "From what is shown in the CCTV... my son never keeps his hair long. I believe my son is being framed," Mr Fakir asserted, denying any connection between his son's typical appearance and the person seen in the footage.

Shariful, who is from Bangladesh, had moved to India due to the political unrest in his home country.

To a question from IANS, Mr Fakir explained: "He left Bangladesh and came to India for one reason — the political unrest in Bangladesh... He was working where he received a salary, and his employer even rewarded him..."

Mr Fakir went on to describe his son's life in India, painting a picture of a man simply trying to make a living in a foreign country.

"The salary in Mumbai's hotels is higher than in West Bengal. The hotels there are quite large, and the salary is also higher," Mr Fakir noted, suggesting that Shariful moved to Mumbai for better job prospects in the hospitality industry.

Despite the gravity of the accusations against his son, Fakir insists that he hasn't received any communication from the police.

Asked if the local police had contacted him, he said: "No, nothing like that has happened. No one has come from anywhere. We don't know anyone in India. We have no support in India."

Mr Fakir reflected on his last conversation with Shariful, recalling their regular exchanges.

"My last conversation with my son was on a Friday evening," he said. "He (Shariful) used to get his salary after the 10th of every month... After that, he would talk to me."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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Why Trump's Claims About Americans Splitting The Atom Angers New Zealanders

January 22, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Imagine a newly-elected president of a country claiming the legacy of someone as foundational as Thomas Edison. That's the kind of appropriation New Zealanders are witnessing.

The recent inaugural address of President Donald Trump has sparked a heated debate over the origins of a groundbreaking scientific achievement: splitting the atom. Trump's claim that American experts were responsible for this feat has been met with swift correction from New Zealanders, who proudly assert that their native son, Sir Ernest Rutherford, was the true pioneer behind this discovery.

Rutherford's achievement in 1917 at Victoria University of Manchester in England marked a pivotal moment in the history of nuclear physics. His work not only earned him a Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1908 but also led to the discovery of radioactive half-life and the understanding that radioactivity involves the transmutation of one chemical element to another.

Nick Smith, the mayor of Nelson, near Rutherford's hometown, has invited the US ambassador to visit the Lord Rutherford memorial, emphasising the importance of preserving the accurate historical record. Smith expressed his surprise at Trump's claim, stating, "I was a bit surprised by new president Donald Trump in his inauguration speech about US greatness claiming today Americans split the atom when that honour belongs to Nelson's most famous and favourite son Sir Ernest Rutherford."

Trump's remarks have also drawn criticism from other New Zealanders, including Ben Uffindell, editor of The Civilian, who wrote on social media, "Okay, I've gotta call time. Trump just claimed America split the atom. That's THE ONE THING WE DID."

Rutherford's legacy extends far beyond his scientific contributions. He remains one of New Zealand's most beloved sons, and his face still appears on the country's $100 bill. As the world continues to grapple with the complexities of scientific discovery and national pride, Rutherford's story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of preserving accurate historical records and honouring the achievements of pioneering scientists.

In the realm of nuclear physics, Rutherford's work paved the way for numerous breakthroughs, including the discovery of the neutron and the development of nuclear reactors. His influence can be seen in the work of other scientists, such as John Cockcroft and Ernest Walton, who successfully split lithium atoms using artificially accelerated protons in 1932.
 



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India Likely XI vs England: These 2 Stars "May Have To Wait". Reason Is...

January 21, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

With heavy dew likely to impact the proceedings during the opening T20I at the Eden Gardens, India's bowlers practised with wet balls and it will not be a surprise if the hosts field only two spinners, given the conditions. Dew is a perennial concern at this time of the year at Eden Gardens. Since dew makes it difficult to grip the ball, fielding a third spinner could prove to be costly. Mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy, a key member of the reigning IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders, appears to be an automatic choice for India and head coach Gautam Gambhir likely to pair him alongside vice-captain Axar Patel.

As a result, Ravi Bishnoi and Washington Sundar may have to wait for their turn. "If we know there is going to be a heavy dew, you start preparing with the wet ball. You start bowling with the wet ball during practice sessions. You field with the wet ball. So these are the things which are in your control," India skipper Suryakumar said.

"We try to control all those things which we can during practice sessions so that when the game comes, we are prepared." It could also open the door for in-form Andhra all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, who scored a historic maiden Test century during the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Reddy last appeared in a T20I during the home series against Bangladesh in October last year, and he will be eager to carry his form into this series, if given the opportunity.

Reddy made history as the first Indian batter to score a century in Australia while batting at number eight.

His inclusion would strengthen India's batting line-up further.

From opening to No. 10, the slots are almost sorted. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson will open the innings, followed by Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, and Axar Patel -- in no fixed order.

"We all want to be very flexible with the batting order. Other than the openers' slots, which are fixed, I think from 3 to 8 or 7, everyone needs to be really flexible with their batting order. Anyone can go in at any time, and we have been practicing for that," Suryakumar said.

A fit-again Mohammed Shami will spearhead the pace attack on his return to international cricket after nearly 14 months. He will be joined by left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh, providing variety.

The duo were seen putting in the hard yards during their match-eve training session.

Suryakumar expressed excitement over Shami's return.

"It's always good to have an experienced bowler in your side, and he is making a comeback after over a year. I am really excited to see him. I have seen his journey, how he focused on his bowling and recovery at the NCA." "It felt good to see him (Shami) on the ground. He has bowled well too. Obviously, he has done his preparation, and he was confident from the start." After bowling for more than an hour at full throttle during India's first training session on Sunday, Shami did not bowl on Monday.

However, he was back to bowling with full intensity on the match eve.

"He has bowled well, and obviously, he has done his preparation. Even today, he is feeling good. Let's see what happens tomorrow," added Suryakumar.

It will be a homecoming for KKR star finisher Rinku Singh, who has had a quiet run recently, with scores of 8 not out, 11, 9, and 8 in his last four innings.

Suryakumar is hopeful that Rinku will come out all guns blazing.

"I want to see him hitting sixes. He has measured all the nooks and corners of Eden Gardens, having played a lot of cricket here. It will be a good welcome for him. It's always a good stadium with a great atmosphere," Suryakumar said.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)



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"Golden Age Of America Begins Now": Trump Returns To White House

January 20, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Donald Trump took oath as the 47th President of the United States Monday, capping a remarkable turnaround in fortunes that nosedived after the riots in Washington, D.C. in January 2021 and hit rock bottom in May 2024, when he was convicted of felonies by a New York court, including charges relating to falsifying business records to cover payment of 'hush money' to Stormy Daniels, an adult film actor.

Trump's deputy, JD Vance, was sworn in as Vice President just before him.

Almost immediately after Trump was sworn in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated his "dear friend" and wished him a successful term. "I look forward to working closely together once again, to benefit both our countries and shape a better future for the world," Mr Modi said on X.

Donald Trump is now the first convicted felon to be President of the United States. He was already the first ex-President to be convicted of felony crimes - the jury found him guilty on all 34 charges, including those in a scheme to illegally influence the 2020 presidential election, the loss of which led to the riots.

He has announced he intends to pardon many of the convicted rioters. 

Minutes after being administered the oath by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Trump - who survived assassination attempts - declared, "The 'Golden Age of America' begins now".

In his first remarks after being sworn in Trump referred to the assassination attempt in Pennsylvania in July and declared he had been "saved by God to make America great again".

"The 'Golden Age of America' has begun, as of right now. We will become the great nation we were again. The rest of the world will envy us," he said to raucous cheers from supporters.

"Not so long ago, during the election campaign, I was targeted in an attempted assassination attempt, when a bullet pierced through my ear. But God saved me... because my purpose is to make America great again," Trump, who at 78 is also the oldest American President ever, said.

Trump had vowed to sign a flurry of executive orders, including announcing stringent curbs on immigrant and mass deportation of illegal migrants, as well as banning transgender athletes from women's sports, and undoing his predecessor's directives on diversity and oil drilling.

The president will also declare a national emergency at the Mexico border, send armed troops there, and resume a policy forcing asylum seekers to wait there for court dates, officials said.

He will also seek to end so-called birthright citizenship for U.S.-born children whose parents lack legal status, a move some legal scholars have said would be unconstitutional.

In total, Trump - whose second term, critics and 'allies', including Europe and NATO, or the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, fear, will push the limits of executive power - expected to sign around 100 orders, many of which will aim to reverse decisions by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Several, if not all, of these executive orders will face legal challenges.

With input from agencies



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"India Will Be 20% Of Global Growth In Few Years": WEF Chief To NDTV At Davos

January 19, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

World Economic Forum (WEF) president and CEO Borge Brende has predicted India's growth has potential to reach 7-8% with the help of reforms.

At Davos, where the WEF brings together some of the world's biggest leaders and thinkers, India has had a huge presence every year, and one of the primary themes has been growth.

"India has a great potential, and it is still growing pretty well, 6 per cent this year. But there is no reason why India cannot pick up again and do 7 per cent, 8 per cent, provided that there are reforms on investments, infrastructure, investing in education and R&D [research and development]," Mr Brende told NDTV.

"We do expect that in a few years, India will be 20 per cent of the overall global growth. That is quite incredible. And what works also for India is the enormous strength in startups. There are more than 1,20,000 startups in India. I think there are now more than 120 unicorns. So that ecosystem, I think, is the basis also for future growth," the WEF president said.

On whether India's target of becoming a developed nation by 2047 is realistic, Mr Brende said India will be a $10 trillion economy soon, and what also works in the interest of India is that trade is now pivoting more towards digital trade and services.

"That's growing three times faster than traditional goods. And these are areas where India is very strong," he said.

To a question by NDTV on some of the key challenges or opportunities that come with greater digitalisation of the workforce, Mr Brende said, "It's increased productivity. And productivity is like producing more with less resources. And of course, this will challenge some jobs that are back offices today or other jobs. But if that can lead to people moving into areas where you produce higher up in the value chain, you can pay better, you can produce more. And that's prosperity."

"So, for India, there are of course huge opportunities when it comes to the new technologies. But short term, it also creates challenges because one has to upskill and reskill people," the WEF president said.

Climate Agenda

With the world grappling to stick to the 1.5 degree Celsius or below mark, the WEF has integrated climate as a primary driver in its processes.

"It's [climate] incredibly important. And I think you just came back from Los Angeles. You saw the wildfires. We have seen droughts. We know that agriculture production, production of food is being more challenged now because there are areas where you can't just grow what you used to grow.

"So in general, I would say that the cost of inaction far exceeds the cost of action when it comes to climate change. So we need to keep up the momentum. We will need to emit less CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the years to come to even be able to stick to a 2 degree target," Mr Brende told NDTV.

He said the 2 degree target means a lot, especially to countries that are most vulnerable, which happen to be countries that have emitted the least CO2, traditionally being African countries, but also including India that has already seen heat waves and "seen the cost of this".

The five-day meeting at Davos beginning Monday will explore how to re-launch growth, harness new technologies and strengthen social and economic resilience, according to the World Economic Forum. The global meeting will see participation by nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, including 350 governmental leaders.

India's participation at Davos aims to strengthen partnerships, attract investment, and position the country as a global leader in sustainable development and technological innovation. India is sending five Union ministers, three chief ministers, and ministers from several other states to the WEF this time.



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"Thanks For Forgiving": Coldplay's Chris Martin Apologises For Colonialism

January 19, 2025  flasnewsesblogspot.com  No comments

Coldplay's highly anticipated India tour kicked off with an electrifying performance in Mumbai on Saturday, winning the hearts of millions as the band made a heartfelt effort to connect with the local audience.  

During their concert at DY Patil Stadium, lead singer Chris Martin expressed gratitude to the audience for warmly welcoming the British band. In a poignant moment, he acknowledged the pre-independence history between the two nations, saying, "Thank you for welcoming us even though we are from Britain," and added, "Thanks for forgiving us for everything the Britishers did."  

The crowd erupted in cheers in response to Martin's thoughtful gesture.

See the viral video here:

In another viral video, Chris Martin greeted the audience in Hindi. After one of the songs, he expressed his gratitude by saying "shukriya," which delighted fans.

The most unexpected moment came when Chris, reading the placards held by fans, uttered "Jai Shri Ram," after spotting it on one of the signs. This spontaneous gesture was met with cheers from the crowd. He even inquired about the meaning of the phrase.

Coldplay played their biggest hits, including Paradise, Viva La Vida, Adventure of a Lifetime and Yellow among others. 

Coldplay is set to perform in Mumbai once again on January 21 and 22 before heading to Ahmedabad for concerts on January 25 and 26, which will be streamed live on Disney+ Hotstar.

Chris Martin, who arrived in India with his girlfriend Dakota Johnson, visited temples during their Mumbai visit.



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